Product · Melitta
Melitta Barista SE: dual bean chamber, 4 profiles
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The Melitta Barista SE is meant for a home or small office where people want a choice of beans without swapping bags in and out of the hopper. Its distinguishing feature is a built-in dual-chamber bean container, so a dark espresso blend and a decaf, for example, can sit side by side and be selected per drink.
- Grinder
- 5 fineness settings
- Milk system
- Milk frother (type not stated)
- Drinks
- Not stated
- Water tank
- 1.8 L
- Controls
- Touchscreen
In its favour
- The dual-chamber bean container lets you switch between two bean varieties without emptying the hopper.
- My Coffee Memory saves preferences for up to 4 people, and there are three temperature settings.
- A height-adjustable outlet up to 140 mm fits tall glasses and travel mugs.
Good to know
- The listing does not say how many drinks are on the menu or describe the milk system in detail.
- Five grind fineness settings is fewer than some rivals offer for fine tuning.
Our take
Dual chamber and My Coffee Memory
Melitta describes the container as letting users store and switch between two varieties. The total bean capacity is listed as 270 g, which suggests each side holds a modest amount, so frequent drinkers will be topping up regularly. The listing does not say whether the two chambers share a single grinder, so expect a little of the previous bean to reach the next cup after switching.
My Coffee Memory stores preferences for up to four people. Combined with the two chambers, that lets one person keep a strong espresso on the left beans while another has a milder long coffee on the right.
Grinding, temperature and cup clearance
The grinder offers five fineness options and there are three temperature settings. Five steps is more than the De'Longhi Magnifica Evo Next offers, though still not fine-grained. The height-adjustable outlet reaches 140 mm, which the listing says fits tall glasses, travel mugs and high mugs.
Milk comes from a milk frother, but the listing does not state what type it is or how it is cleaned. The drinks menu is not stated either, so buyers who want a specific recipe should confirm it before ordering.
Size, weight and upkeep
The water tank holds 1.8 litres. The body is 46.7 cm deep, 25.9 cm wide and 37.2 cm high, and at 12.5 kg it is heavier than most rivals, partly due to the metal construction listed in the specs. Plan a permanent spot rather than lifting it in and out of a cupboard.
The spec table marks the machine as not dishwasher safe, and no automatic cleaning programme is mentioned in the listing. Power is 1450 watts with a UK plug.
How it compares
The Melitta Barista T Smart also has two bean compartments plus app control, at a higher level of features. The Siemens EQ900 Plus goes further with a separate grinder for each hopper, which avoids carry-over. Against the Philips 5500 LatteGo, the Barista SE gives up the easy jug and iced drinks but gains bean choice and four profiles.
Verdict
Buy the Melitta Barista SE if your household drinks two different coffees and wants each person's settings remembered. If you need app control, the Barista T Smart is the natural step up, and if clean switching between beans matters most, the Siemens EQ900 Plus with its two grinders is the stronger choice.
Compared with alternatives in: Best bean-to-cup coffee machines for UK homes, Best bean-to-cup machines with two bean hoppers
Amazon listing title: Melitta BARISTA SE BLACK F830-003